How important is weighing yourself for measuring weight loss?

It seems that when we measure our weight loss the only device we use is the scales. However, I don’t believe weighing yourself is the best option to judge whether you are making progress.
How important is weighing yourself for measuring weight loss progress?

Sure the scales will tell you whether you have gained or lost weight but will they tell you whether that weight is fat? The scales are misleading becaue quite often our weight loss/gain is water and therefore whatever the scales read is misleading.

For example, if you weigh yourself first thing in the morning you are going to get a different score than if you weighed yourself after a meal. Or, if you weigh yourself before a run you will weigh more than after the run because when you run you lose a whole lot of sweat.

It is for these reasons that I get a little frazzled when I see women weighing themselves and then getting shocked and upset.

There is a better way.

So how should I measure my weight loss?

If you do want to use the scales you should make sure you weigh yourself at the same time everyday. The best idea is to do it first thing in the morning before you go to the toilet and before you have your breakfast.

However, a better way to measure your weight loss is to use a tape measure. Measure your waist, legs, arms, etc. every couple of weeks and see whether they are getting smaller or bigger. Again, however, this can be misleading as you might have gained some muscle which will make the readings bigger.
So what is the best way?

I personally think the best way to see whether you have lost weight is to look in the mirror. Before and after photos are a great way of making comparisions and they force you to face facts about whether you are losing or gaining weight. Some women will think they have lost weight when they probably haven’t. Photos force you to face facts.

Conclusion
Don’t get upset if the scales tell you you have put on weight. It could be the sandwhich you had at lunch. Hell, a footlong from Subway probably weighs a kilo!